rainfall

American  

[reyn-fawl] / ˈreɪnˌfɔl /

noun

1. a fall or shower of rain.

2. the amount of water falling in rain, snow, etc., within a given time and area, usually expressed as a hypothetical depth of coverage.

   a rainfall of 70 inches a year.

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rainfall British  

/ ˈreɪnˌfɔːl /

noun

1. precipitation in the form of raindrops

2. meteorol the amount of precipitation in a specified place and time

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rainfall Scientific  

/ rān′fôl′ /

1. The quantity of water, usually expressed in millimeters or inches, that is precipitated in liquid form in a specified area and time interval. Rainfall is often considered to include solid precipitation such as snow, hail, and sleet as well.

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Etymology

Origin of rainfall

First recorded in 1840–50; rain + fall

Example Sentences

Separate weather systems brought torrential, extended rainfall to the entire island of Sri Lanka and large parts of Indonesia's Sumatra, southern Thailand and northern Malaysia last week.

From Barron's

The speed of movement of storms seems to be slowing down too with the potential to give more rainfall, as we also saw with Hurricane Melissa.

From BBC

Intense rainfall began on the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday.

From BBC

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing the northeast monsoon season, but rainfall has intensified due to the cyclone, it added.

From Barron's

Climate change also has impacted storm patterns, including the duration and intensity of the season, leading to heavier rainfall, flash flooding and stronger wind gusts.

From Barron's

Related Words

• moisture
• rain
• shower